Richmond Defeats Massachusetts on Fourth Overtime Possession, 52-51

Quarterback Chad Grier threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Hargrove on Richmond’s fourth overtime possession to lift the Spiders to a 52-51 Yankee Conference victory over Massachusetts Saturday.

Under Yankee Conference overtime rules, each team is given successive possessions at the opponent’s 25 until one team scores. If a team scores, the other team has to tie or better. There is no time limit in the overtime.

Richmond tailback Erwin Matthews scored the fifth of his six touchdowns on a three-yard run, forcing a third overtime possession. Matthews then scored from nine yards out for a 45-38 Richmond lead, but Kevin Murphy plunged over from the one as Massachusetts forged another tie.

Among Matthews’ 6 touchdowns were a 65-yard pass from Grier and a 92-yard kickoff return.

Richmond is 2-1 overall and 2-0 in conference. Massachusetts (0-2 and 0-2) overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to send the game into overtime, as quarterback Dave Palazzi teamed with Michael Trifari for a 20-yard touchdown pass and Chip Mitchell scored from 7 yards out with 1:17 remaining for a 28-28 tie at the end of regulation.